Floating landing-stage



May 6, 1969 Mr f Filed May 22, 1967 w. c. VAN OOST FLOATINGLANDING-STAGE Sheet of'6 INVENT OR Mu EM 0019/1/54 m flm 0arr BY W Y JMATTORNEYS May 6, 1969 w. c. VAN oosT FLOATING LANDING-STAGE Filed May22, 1967 Sheet 3 013 INVENTOR MALE/14 (be/1450s Vfl/v 04.57

BY ,1 (7M ATTORNEYS May 6, 1969 w. c. VA N OOST 3,442,238 FLOATINGLANDING-STAGE Filed May 22, 1967 3 of s Sheet i lg INVENTOR Wu L EMfa/e/va u hyA flwr BY r- JM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 6 Int. CLB63b 351/34 US. Cl. 114--.5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A floatinglanding stage consists of a plurality of buoyant T-shaped elements whoseheads are in alignment in two contiguous parallel rows, the headsof theTs forming the main walkway of the landing stage and the limbs of the Tsforming the mooring parts of the stage. Preferably, two parallel beamsoutwardly bound the heads ofthe T-shaped elements, and the elements arehollow and boxshaped.

The invention relates to a floating landing-stage, conslsting of one ormore footways and oneor more transverse parts at right angles thereto.

Especially in harbours for recreative purposes, such as yacht-basins,for the mooring of the ships use is made of landing-stages consisting ofa main stage with transverse stages at right angles thereto, which inmany cases extend on either side of the main stage. Frequently suchlanding-stages are constructed to float, in which case they usuallyconsist of beams and planks which are secured on flating metal drums.The transverse stages at right angles to the main stage are somedistance apart, the distance between two successive transverse stagesbeing determined by the dimensions of the ships which are moored tothese stages.

The construction of such landing-stages is rather a timeconsuming job,while their stability often leaves much to be desired/It is moreover adisadvantage of the stages constructed in this way that their floatingelements (drums) lie in the water at considerable depth, in consequenceof which they become ice-bound in winter, and as a result of this areoften damaged and have to be repaired or replaced by new drums.

It is a further disadvantage that these stages can be adapted only withgreat difficulty to changing circumstances in the yacht-basin owing tothe construction of the stage. It frequently happens that the dimensionsof the ships moored in a given yacht-basin change, because the ownerspurchase a new (usually larger) yacht. In view of this it is necessaryfor the distances between the mooring stages to be changed and adapted.In the conventional constructions the transverse stages must be detachedfrom the main stage for this purpose, which is a time-consuming andfrequently diflicult job. i

It is the object of the invention to furnish a floating landing-stagewhich does not have the above-mentioned disadvantages, and according tothe invention this is achieved by the fact that the whole stage iscomposed of box-shaped elements having buoyancy as a whole, whichelements are rigidly interconnected either directly or indirectly. I

The landing-stage composed in this Way has very great buoyancy, inconsequence of which it comes to rest in the water at a much smallerdepth than the stages known so far, the result being that in winter,when iceis formed, it fairly comes to rest on the ice and the risk ofdamage upon freezing-in is very small. Owing to the use of boxshapedelements the landing-stage can be constructed in a 3,442,238 PatentedMay 6, 1969 fairly simple way from a number of these elements and beadapted to the circumstances, while the elements can be rigidlyinterconnected in a fairly simple way either di rectly or indirectly.Owing to this rigid interconnection a very stable construction isobtained.

In one embodiment according to the invention a floating landing-stage iscomposed of elements substantially having the form of right-angledparallelepipeds and having buoyancy as a whole, which elements arerigidly inter connected in rows, while in accordance with therequirements a number of rows of elements are at right angles to one ormore other rows of elements, the rows of elements being rigidlyinterconnected.

A very favourable embodiment of a landing-stage ac cording to theinvention is one in which the stage is composed of T-shaped elementshaving buoyancy as a whole, of which elements the head portion as'wellas the limb portion is box-shaped. In this case the T-shaped elementscan be so constructed that one part (the head portion or the limbportion) of an element forms a part of a footway of the stage and theother part, at right angles thereto, forms a transverse stage, as aresult of Which-because these parts form one unit-great stability of thewhole stage is obtained. The transverse stages act as stabilizers.

The use of T-shaped segments as structural elements of a stage creates asimplified possibility for the construction of a stage and for itsadaptation to the circumstances for which it is used. The T-shapedelements can be variously arranged in relation to each other.

One embodiment according to the invention consists in that theT-shapedelements are placed with their heads in line with each other.

According to another embodiment the T-shaped ele ments can be placedwiththe limbs in line with each other.

Furthermore the T-shaped elements can be fastened together in such a waythat invariably the end of the limb or the head of each element adjoinsthe limb or the head of a preceding and/or succeeding element.

A very etficient arrangement of T-shaped elements is one in which theT-shaped elements areplaced with the heads in two parallel rows, thelimbs of one row being placed in the opposite direction to the limbs ofthe other row. The aligned heads or limbs of the T-shaped elements formthe main part of the stage, while the parts of the T-shaped elements atright anles thereto form the transverse stages extending on either sideof the main part.

Many possibilities for the construction of landing-stages are obtainedaccording to the invention by the use of a combination of T-shapedelements and elements having the form of a right-angled parallelepiped,while the elements can be rigidly interconnected either directly orindirectly.

In this way the footway of a landing-stage composed of two rows of Tshaped elements as described above, for instance, can be widened in anefficient way by the provision of a row of elements having the form ofright-angled parallelepipeds, between the parallel rows of heads of theT-shaped elements.

It is also possible to fit between aligned portions of two successiveT-shape d elements one or more additional elements having the form ofright-angled parallelepipeds', which can be connected with the T-shapedelements. In this way the distance between two transverse stages can bechanged and adapted to altered circumstances (such as in the case wherea part of the landing-stage must be used for larger ships). The portionsof the T-shaped elements which form the transverse stages'can moreoverbe extended to any desired length with the aid of elements having theform of right-angled parallelepipeds'.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the portions of theelements extending in the longitudinal direction are clamped between twoparallel beams of hardwood.

In this embodiment therefore the beams skirt the outer edge of the mainpart of the landing-stage and in this connection they serve not only ascoupling elements between the floating elements, but also as buflermembers by which the elements are protected against collision anddamage.

When the elements are fastened to beams skirting the entire length ofthe stage, an extremely stable construction is obtained. An additionaladvantage consists in that owing to the stability of the whole structureonly a small number of guide poles are required for maintaining thestages in their places. This is very important and saves much expenseduring construction and during dredging operations in the yacht-basin,which become much simpler, and accordingly less expensive, since duringthe shifting of dredging machines only a small number of poles have tobe reckoned with. Owing to the relatively large and regular intervalsbetween the poles some of these poles can even be used for the fasteningof guys for the dredging machines, for the shifting of the latter.

At the same time the hardwood beams present the possibility of shiftingthe floating elements in relation to each other in a simple Way, viz. byensuring that the elements are adjustable between the longitudinalbeams. This adjustability can be attained, for instance, when the beamsare provided with bolt-holes fitted at regular fixed intervals. It is,however, also possible to secure the beams to struts in the ground,which are interconnected, if necessary, beneath the stage. The beams canalso be interconnected at wide intervals by means of crossbeams.

If two elements are fastened to the beam at some distance from eachother, the intervening space can be utiliZed for the mooring of anytrailer boats in the space thus formed. This presents the advantage thatduring the mooring of the boats these trailer boats are notinconveniently in the way. The gap thus formed in the upper surface ofthe stage is covered by the normal footway.

In landing-stages consisting of two parallel rows of T-shaped elementsthe elements from one row can be adjusted along the beam skirting themin this way, completely independently of the elements adjustablyfastened to the second beam. By this means the distance between twotransverse stages can thus be changed and adapted to any alteredcircumstances in the yacht-basin without any influence being exerted onthe distance between the transverse stages extending on the other sideof the main stage. In this way it is ensured that the lay-out of theyacht-basin is as eflicient as possible.

If there are two rows of T-shaped elements, these rows may adjoin eachother, but they may also, as already described above, be separated fromeach other by a row of elements having the form of parallelepipeds, witha view to widening the footway of the stage.

According to an efiicient embodiment, between the rows of elements canbe placed a row of channel-shaped elements, intended to accommodatemains and the like, and secured to the heads of the elements.

Especially when the stage is used as a landing-stage for house-boats,this latter construction is very suitable, since the requisite water,gas, and electricity mains can be fitted in the channel-shaped elements.

The floating elements according to the invention preferably consists ofT-shaped hollow floats of a synthetic material.

An eminently suitable material of which the T-shaped elements can bemade consists of polyester reinforced with glass fibre. This has beenfound to be a very suitable material requiring very little maintenance.The properties of the material are very favourable, so that the risk ofdamage is very small. The material moreover is absolutelycorrosion-resistant, so that it is not affected by the corrosivesurroundings in which it is present and can also be used veryadvantageously in sea-ports, without any intensive maintenance beingrequired. Moreover it has been found that accretions of micro-organismspresent in the water (fresh water and salt water barnacles) can be veryreadily removed, e.g. with a stopping knife. A great advantage of theapplied material as compared with the conventional materials used up tothe present is its great buoyancy. Indeed, this has the consequence thatthe floating elements of the stages lie in the water at only a verysmall depth, as a result of which in winter, when ice is formed, thefloating elements fairly come to rest on the ice. Moreover the adhesionof ice to the polyester material appears to be very small, so thatpractically no freezing-in is found to take place.

All the above-mentioned properties of the polyester material are thecause that stage elements made of this material require a minimum ofmaintenance.

If, however, the landing-stage should be damaged all the same, it isknown that the material can be repaired in a very simple way.

The elements can further be provided with an anti-slip coating, so thatan anti-slip footway is obtained on the stage. In particular when theelements consist of a synthetic material or of glass fibre-reinforcedpolyester, the advantage is gained that a completely splinterlesssurface is obtained.

A footway can be obtained according to a preferred embodiment of theinvention by covering the elements, at least above the heads, withadjoining plates, which are covered with an anti-slip coating.

On the main stage these plates can be fastened with their sides to theparallel clamping beams skirting the main stage.

Furthermore the elements may include spaces accessible via hatches, inconsequence of which additional service can be offered to the users inthat these spaces in the elements can serve as storage spaces for shipsprovisions.

The invention will now be explained more fully by reference to theannexed drawings, which illustrate two embodiments of a landing-stageaccording to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic top view of a landing-stage according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a detail of a landing-stage according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the detail shown in FIG. 2, along the lineIIIIII in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a detail of a modified construction of alanding-stage.

FIG. 5 is a cross section of the landing-stage shown in FIG. 4, alongthe line V-V.

The landing-stage shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 is composed of anumber of hollow T-shaped elements arranged in two rows, indicated inthe figure by 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d and 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, respectively. thesegments 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d are adjustably fastened to a beam 3 skirting thehead portions (5a, etc.) of the segments, while the segments 2a, 2b, 2c,and 2d are adjustably fastened with their head portions (6a, etc.) to abeam 4. As may be seen from FIG. 1, the hear portions 5 and 6 of theT-shaped segments are in line with each other and form the floatingelements for the main part of the landing-stage, while the limb portions7 and 8 at right angles thereto form the floating elements for themooring parts of the stage. By adjustment of the T-shaped segments alongthe beams 3 and 4 the distance between the mooring parts 7a, 7b, 7c and7d, and completely independently thereof the distance between themooring parts 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d, can be modified. FIG 1 shows asituation in which the segments 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are continuouslyfastened along with their head portions 50, etc. to the beam 3, as aresult of which the distances between the limb portions 7a, 7b, 7c, and7d are identical, while, for instance, the segments 2a and 2b of theother row are fastened some distance apart to the beam 4, owing to whichthe distance between the limb portions 8a and 8b is larger than thedistance between the limbs 7a, 7b, etc.

The T-shaped segments all have the same dimensions. If desired, the limbportions of the T-shaped segments can be extended by providing in linetherewith elements 9 having the form of right-angled parallelepipeds,which elements can be connected with the limb portions in the waydescribed more fully below.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a detail of the part of the landingstage of FIG. 1between the lines of dashes.

The T-shaped segments 1b and 2b consist of hollow portions 5b and 6brespectively, open at the top, with at right angles thereto hollowportions 7b and 8b respectively, open at the top, the upper edges of theportions 7b and 8b being located at some distance beneath the upperedges of the portions 5b and 6b. The portions 5b and 6b are fastenedwith their outer walls to beams 3 and 4 respectively, skirting the topsof said walls. For this purpose the beams contain, in a way not shown inthe drawing, bolt holes fitted at fixed intervals (such as 25 cm.),while on the inside of the outer walls of the portions 5b and 6b,fastening members provided with holes are fitted, e.g. in the form ofangle irons. The portions 5b and 6b are fastened to the beams by meansof bolts, projecting through the holes in the beams and the fasteningmembers of the T-shaped segments, and by nuts. The upper edges of theouter walls of the portions 5b and 6b are bent outwards, as a result ofwhich they form flanges 10 and 11 respectively, which rest on the top ofthe beams 3 and 4. The portions 5b and 6b are interconnected with theirfacing inner walls in a way not shown in the drawing. Secured at theupper edge along the outer edges of the limb portions 7b and 8b are alsobeams 12 and 13 respectively, said beams serving for the protection ofthe limb portions and at the same time for the fastening of the footway.The fastening of these beams can take place in the same way as describedabove for the fastening of the portions 5b and 6b to the beams 3 and 4,though no provisions need be made for the adjustment of the portions inrelation to the beams. Provided over the portions 5b and 6b of theT-shaped segments are a number of adjoining polyester plates 14, whichare covered on the upper side with an anti-slip coating. These platesextend from beam 3 to beam 4 and are fastened by their edges to theflanges 10 and 11 on the beams 3 and 4, with the aid of wood screws.These plates form the footway of the main part of the landing-stage. Inthe same Way footways 15 and 16 respectively are formed for the moorngparts 7b and 8b. In the footways 15 and 16, in a number of placeshatches 17 have been provided, by means of which the hollow spaces inthe portions 7b and 8b can be reached and be used as storage spaces forships provisions. For the protection of the bottom of the portions 5band 6b, on the inside a coating of hard foam 18 has been provided, whichin turn is covered with glass fibre-reinforced polyester, as a result ofwhich no direct leakage can occur if the bottom surface should bedamaged.

The landing-stage can be secured to guide poles in the way shown in FIG.2. Fitted to the beam 3 is a metal plate 19, on which is mounted a frame20, on the inside of which are provided four runners 21, extendinginwards and located in the vicinity of the outer boundary of a guidepole 22. This fastening method ensures a flexible and quiet guidance ofthe stage along the guide pole during the movements of the stage anddoes not call for any special treatment of the surface of the hardwoodguide poles.

With a view to the installation of gas, water, and electricity mains,between the facing inner walls of the portions 5b and 6b of the segmentsan I-section 23, for instance, can be fitted, the Web of which extendsvertically downwards. In FIGS. 4 and 5 a modified construction accordingto the invention is shown. In this embodiment the segments 1 and 2 ofthe two rows are some distance apart, while between the rows extends achannel-shaped element 24, which is, connected by its outer walls, in away not shown in the drawing, with the facing walls of the segmentportions 5 and 6. This construction is eminently suitable forlanding-stages which are used for the mooring of house-boats.

In this construction the channel 24 is employed as a space for theinstallation of gas, water, and electricity mains, which are safelystored there. The channel 24 can also be covered with plates 25 providedwith an antislip coating, in which plates in suitable places can beprovided hatches 26, which give access to the space 24. Thechannel-shaped elements 24 can be fitted either with or withoutpartitions.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A floating landing-stage comprising at least one walkway and a numberof transverse parts at right angles to the walkway, the stage being atleast mainly composed of T-shaped elements having heads disposed in twoparallel nows, the limbs of the T -shaped elements of one row extendingoutwardly in opposite directions from the limbs of the T-shaped elementsof the other row, said T-shaped elements having buoyancy as a whole andeach being formed by at least one box-shaped element and means rigidlyinterconnecting said T-shaped elements.

2. A floating landing-stage as claimed in claim 1, the

elements being hollow and made of glass fiber-reinforced polyesterresin.

3. A floating landing-stage as claimed in claim .1, said T-shapedelements in each said row having heads aligned with each other.

4. A floating landing-stage as claimed in claim 1, said T-shapedelements in each said row having heads whose ends adjoin each other.

5. A floating landing-stage as claimed in claim 1, and a row of floatingbox-shaped elements disposed between said two parallel rows and formedof synthetic resin.

6. A floating landing-stage as claimed in claim 1, the stage beingcomposed of a combination of T-shaped elements and box-shaped elementswhich are rigidly connected with the T-shaped elements and are made ofsynthetic resin.

7. A floating landing-stage as claimed in claim 1, said T-shapedelements in each said row having heads that are aligned with each other,and two parallel beams between which said heads are secured.

8. A floating landing-stage as claimed in claim 7, and means forreleasably securing said heads at any of a plurality of selectedpositions between and lengthwise of said beams thereby to permitadjustment of the spacing between said heads.

9. A fioating landing-stage as claimed in claim 1, and adjoining platescovering at least said walkway.

10. A floating landing-stage as claimed in claim 1, said elements beingmade of synthetic resin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,821,320 9/1931 Plummer.3,022,759 2/ 1962 McCall. 3,152,568 10/1964 Mayer. 3,193,855 7/ 1965Chapman.

TRYGVE M. BLIX, Primary Examiner.

